Railways sanctions ₹895.30 crore for Kolkata Metro power upgrade and Damodar bridge rebuild
Indian Railways on 2 May 2026 sanctioned works worth ₹895.30 crore, including ₹671.72 crore to upgrade the power system of Kolkata Metro's North–South Corridor for a 2.5-minute headway and ₹223.58 crore to rebuild the Damodar Bridge (No. 520) in Adra Division.
Summary
Indian Railways sanctioned projects worth ₹895.30 crore on 2 May 2026. For the North–South Corridor of Kolkata Metro, ₹671.72 crore will fund seven new traction substations (₹291.06 crore) and the upgrade of substations from Esplanade to Kavi Subhash, including raising the supply from 11 kV to 33 kV (₹380.66 crore), allowing trains every 2.5 minutes instead of the 5 minutes the 1980s system was designed for. A further ₹223.58 crore will rebuild the substructure of Bridge No. 520 on the Damodar between Madhukunda and Damodar in Adra Division of South Eastern Railway; the bridge dates from 1965 (UP line) and 1903 (DN line) and lies on the Asansol–Tatanagar link, part of a DFC feeder route and coal corridor carrying 67 GMT.
Key facts
- Total sanctioned
- ₹895.30 crore
- Kolkata Metro (North–South Corridor)
- ₹671.72 crore; 7 new traction substations; 11 kV → 33 kV
- Headway
- 5 minutes → 2.5 minutes
- Damodar Bridge No. 520
- ₹223.58 crore; Madhukunda–Damodar, Adra Division, SER
- Bridge age
- 1965 (UP), 1903 (DN); Asansol–Tatanagar link, 67 GMT
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The Kolkata Metro power-system upgrade sanctioned in May 2026 will allow trains on the North–South Corridor to run at what headway?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2.5 minutes
The ₹671.72-crore upgrade will enable a 2.5-minute headway, up from the 5-minute frequency the 1980s system was designed for.
Bridge No. 520, sanctioned for reconstruction in May 2026, spans which river and lies in which railway division?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Damodar; Adra Division
Bridge No. 520 is the Damodar Bridge between Madhukunda and Damodar in Adra Division of South Eastern Railway.